Lettuce is an extremely underrated leafy green vegetable that contains beneficial amounts of important mineral salts which can be converted into a form of protein. Surprisingly, lettuce can be used in many other food besides the common salad base.
In some other areas, lettuce can be added to include in soups, juices, wraps, cracker toppings, etc. The harvesting process is pretty easy. There are a few tricks that you can master to ensure that you maximize your harvest.
In this article, I am going to explain how to harvest lettuce without killing the plant effortlessly.
The key to any harvest is ensuring you do it in a way that allows consistent regeneration. For example, use a sterilized pair of shears and cut the leaves at the base.
We’ll get to that as we dig deep into the process of harvesting lettuce without killing it.
Table of Contents
Different Types of Lettuce Explained
There are many different types of lettuce in the world, but the more commonly known one’s include:
- Loose Leaf Lettuce
- Romaine Lettuce
- Celtuce Lettuce
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Buttercrunch Lettuce
Iceberg/Crisphead Lettuce
Iceberg or crisphead lettuce is probably the most common type. It looks a bit like cabbage but is from a different family group. Icebergs are mostly green in color from the top down and fade to more of a white color closer to the base of the head.
They are round-shaped lettuce with densely packed rosette-formed leaves the size of a human head. They have a crunchy texture and are mildly sweet and watery to taste.
Loose Leaf Lettuce
Loose leaf lettuce is a staple vegetable in most gardens due to its ease of growth. You pretty much just plant, water, harvest and eat without too much extra care. The most common types include Lollo Rosso, Deer Tongue, Grand Rapids, Black Seeded Simpson and Green Ice.
These types don’t grow in a tightly packed head like the iceberg. In contrast, the delicate leaves of the loose leaf lettuce grow from a central stalk. They generally grow either green or deep red with white-tinged bases. These types of lettuce are soft, tender and ruffly in texture and more mild and sweet to taste.
Romaine/Cos Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is another head lettuce variety. It has the same characteristics as the iceberg, except it is more elongated than round. Romaine is usually used in caesar salads because it generally keeps its tight, crisp form when prepared.
Icebergs, on the other hand, tend to become a bit floppy. They are not as sweet as icebergs and have a slightly bitter aftertaste but are refreshingly juicy.
Celtuce Lettuce (Chinese Lettuce)
Celtuce (a.k.a stem lettuce, asparagus lettuce, or celery lettuce) isn’t a common type of lettuce, nor does it look like one. This type of lettuce is grown for its thick stem. The stem looks a little like one of broccoli or asparagus, hence the nicknames. The stems are light greenish to earthy brown.
They are long, knotty, or gnarly shaped, with floppy green leaves growing out the top. The stalks are used in many Chinese dishes. They are often cut into matchstick size or slightly larger chunks and added to soups, salads, and garnishes. It tastes slightly nutty with a cucumber-esque flavor.
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Buttercrunch lettuce is a bit of a hybrid. It does form a rosette head, but it is also loosely packed, which makes it seem quite leafy. It has beautiful upward-facing dark green leaves surrounding a more pale-colored tender center.
It has a slightly sweet but buttery taste. Its ideal uses are salads and tortillas due to its small and floppy but crunchy leaves.
How do you know when Lettuce is ready to harvest?
Each type of lettuce has its own ‘I’m ready to be harvested’ sign. For example, iceberg, romaine and buttercrunch grow upwards and are denser, so you should wait until they are around 3-6 inches long (7-15cm). It’s the length of these leaves that determines the right time.
At the same time, the loose leaf varieties only need to be around 4 inches (10cm) in height. They are more floppy and can be used in a much smaller form.
You can usually pinch off a leaf or 2 from the outside of any lettuce without harming the plant and test it for taste. Each type should taste a certain way when grown to a mature state.
Will Lettuce Grow Back After Cutting?
Lettuce is a handy vegetable when it comes to regeneration. As long as you leave around 1-2 inches (2.5-5cm) of leaves and stem at the base and don’t disturb the root system, you can expect to see some new growth within the week.
Most gardeners use the cut and come again harvesting method, which can be extremely beneficial for both usage and growth. You can harvest the outer leaves progressively or cut the lettuce down to the base. Depending on the growing conditions, the latter will generally allow 2-3 harvests.
On the other hand, harvesting the outer leaves can produce for a lot longer as you’d only remove smaller amounts over time.
What are the Perfect Growing Conditions for Lettuce
Growing lettuce can be fun as well as rewarding. The fact that this leafy green is so versatile makes it extremely valuable, so making sure it’s grown under optimal conditions is essential. Let’s look at what is required to grow the perfect lettuce.
Weather Conditions
Lettuce is a cool-season vegetable. The seedlings themselves can tolerate some light frost. This type of plant grows well between 45-65°F (7-18°C) but thrives best slightly higher at around 60-65°F (15.5-18°C).
Anything over 80°F (27°C) is too much for the lettuce plant and makes it bolt. Meaning it’ll stop producing leaves and send up a stalk that will flower and produce seed instead.
Sunlight
A lettuce plant likes between 5-6 hours of full sun with some afternoon shade to help it recover, even more so in the warmer months. Some varieties can grow in partial shade. It’s always worth researching the type you wish to grow before planning where to grow it.
Fertilizer and Soil Preparation
Lettuce needs high amounts of nitrogen to keep it available in the soil during its shorter growing season. Using a balanced water-soluble or granular fertilizer is ideal. An optimal ratio is generally a 10-10-10 or 5-5-5, diluted to half its strength.
The soil should be organic, loose and offer good drainage. Compost and/or manure work best as they break up most clay blends and provide essential nutrients whilst improving overall growing conditions. Try to avoid acidic mixes as lettuce won’t tolerate these types.
Space and Potting Condition
As lettuce tends to bush out, you’ll need to give them a bit of space to grow. Ideally, you’ll want your rows around 12-18 inches (30.5-46cm) apart. The larger head varieties such as iceberg and romaine prefer 6-8 inches (15-20cm) between each other.
The smaller, more loose types like loose leaves only need around 4 inches (10cm) to separate. If growing in pots, lettuce has a shallow root system, so they don’t require deeper containers.
Wider, more shallow pots that offer good drainage are perfect. Plastic, clay or terracotta are all good pot choices.
Watering Schedule
Lettuce is mostly made of water, so naturally, they must be watered regularly. More frequent watering is much more beneficial than long, deep cycles.
Aim to keep them damp without flooding them. Water your lettuce daily and keep an eye on them in the warmer months as they may require even more. Check to see that the leaves aren’t drying out or wilting.
Buddy Plants
Chives and garlic are a great option to plant close to your lettuce. They help repel nasty aphids, a common problem when growing lettuce. Marigolds are another extremely beneficial plant for teaming up with lettuce.
Some other honorable mentions are Beets, Calendula, Mints, Carrots, Radishes, Cilantro and Turnips. These can help to improve soil nutrients, offer shade and even invite beneficial insects to help protect the lettuce.
When to Harvest Lettuce?
When choosing the right time to harvest, it’s always best to look out for signs of maturity. Head type lettuces such as iceberg, romaine and buttercrunch should have a firm and filled-out head. The leafy variants should be judged more by the length of the leaves.
Once they reach around 4 inches (10cm), they should be ready for use. Lettuce can be harvested when the plant reaches 10-20 inches (25-50cm) in height. Spring is the ideal time as when the temperature starts getting too warm towards summer, the head and leaves start to get a bit mushy and will have a bitter taste.
How to Harvest Lettuce Without Killing the Plant?
Harvesting lettuce is quite simple and painless. On the other hand, in order to harvest lettuce without killing the plant requires a little extra knowledge. Unfortunately, there isn’t one harvest method for all types of lettuce.
The head types of lettuce are generally harvested whole to save wastage as far as financials for the farmer and store are concerned. The outer leaves aren’t as sweet and tasty as the ones closer to the center, so it just makes sense.
The leafy types have a bit more lifespan because they can be picked at will. You can use the cut and come again method on those as they are less dense, making them much easier to trim. So let’s look at the easiest ways to harvest all the main types to get the most out of them.
Head Lettuces (Iceberg/Crisphead, Romaine/Cos, Buttercrunch)
Iceberg, romaine, and buttercrunch lettuce (a.k.a head types) can be harvested when they reach around 3-6 inches (8-15cm). They are generally harvested by removing the whole head. They aren’t those types harvested for regeneration, although it is possible.
You can remove the outer leaves as they grow and work toward the center. They will last quite some time this way. Make sure you cut each leaf or the entire head down to the stump and leave 1-2 inches (2.5-5cm).
- Once the full head has been harvested, place it in a bowl or shallow vase.
- Cover the stump’s bottom 1 inch (5cm) with water.
- Stand the bowl or vase somewhere that receives a decent amount of light, such as a window sill.
- In as short as 24 houses, you may notice the tips of the cut go brown and spotted. This is normal and part of the oxidation process.
- After around 3 days, you will notice some small leaves will start sprouting from the top of the stump.
- At the 5-day mark, the growth can explode and double in size.
- Make sure you change the water every day or 2; otherwise, this won’t work.
- After 2 weeks, you will notice 20-30% growth. Any longer won’t produce too much more. If anything, the leaves may grow longer.
Loose Leaf Lettuce
Loose leaf lettuce can be harvested when it reaches around 4 inches (10cm) in height, depending on the variety. These types require a different method to assist them in regrowing.
The leaves aren’t so densely packed, which makes them easier to trim separately. The most common method for harvesting loose leaf lettuce is the cut and come again method.
- You harvest smaller amounts more often to allow the plant time to regrow. As long as you leave the central crown and its closely surrounding leaves, the outside leaves will continue to grow. If you remove the crown, the plant will stop growing.
- If you require larger amounts, you can cut the whole lettuce and leave an inch or 2 above the soil.
- The bare bases will start to produce edible leaves after around 2 weeks.
- Ideally, you can plant 3-4 different types in 1-meter rows and harvest the first heads of each type, so you get a bit of a mix.
- As you move from one side of your planter box to the other, the first harvest will grow back before you are finished. As you harvest, you’ll get a beautiful, consistent regenerative wave.
Celtuce Lettuce
Celtuce can be harvested when the diameter of their stalks is 1 inch (2.5 cm), and they reach 8-14 inches (20-35cm) in height. You can eat the leaves of lettuce, but they can be bitter. Lettuce is more grown for its stem. If you want the leaves, you can use the cut and come again method.
The leaves will regrow several times after cutting them down to an inch over the top of the stem. Otherwise, harvesting the celtuce stems can be done by cutting the base just above the soil line or pulling them up from the ground once fully grown. If you cut them, they will start to regenerate between 2-4 weeks from the cut.
Things To Consider While Harvesting Lettuce
Harvesting lettuce without killing the plant is a pretty easy task to manage. In saying that, some tips are worth remembering to help the process. These include:
How Many Times Can You Harvest Lettuce from One Plant?
If the lettuce is harvested using the cut and come again method, the harvest volume can almost seem infinite during the plant growing season. You can remove the leaves from the outside and progressively work your way into the center.
Be careful not to damage the central crown. If this becomes damaged, the lettuce will stop producing leaves altogether. Alternatively, if you cut the whole lettuce down to the base, you can usually get 2-3 full regrowths during the growing season, depending on the species.
What is the best way to pick lettuce?
The best way to pick lettuce is the cut and come again method. The concept involves harvesting smaller amounts of leaves more often. This encourages newer growth more often. Especially if you have multiple types growing perfectly spaced next to each other.
You could, for example, have a 1m X 1m planter box and have 6-7 different types of lettuce growing in rows. Then you could trim a whole row of leaves and move on to the next row once they are cleared. Continue through this process to the other end of the planter box.
By reaching the other end, the earlier harvested rows will have regrown. It’s like a regenerative wave.
How Long To Harvest Lettuce?
Most lettuce types can be harvested after around 30-70 days. When exactly can only be determined by the type grown and what you’re planning on using it for. It’s more of a personal preference. Some types have tastier leaves earlier on.
Additionally, species such as the celtuce lettuce have stems or leaves that can be eaten. The leaves are grown much earlier than the stem, but the stem is usually what the lettuce is grown for. So again, it’s a more personal preference!
How do you dry, store and use Lettuce?
Lettuce is extremely easy to wash, dry and store. Let’s have a look at the simplest methods for doing so:
Washing Lettuce
- Add the desired leaves to either a large bowl or kitchen sink.
- Fill your chosen container up with cold water.
- Swish the leaves in the water and gently scrub away any dirt remnants or other debris with your hands.
Drying Lettuce
After washing your leaves, shake them out to remove any excess water. The small crevices of lettuce usually fill up with water, so a salad spinner is the best way to completely dry the leaves out. Add the leaves to the spinner and turn them until the leaves are dry.
Alternatively, if you have time, you can lay the leaves out on some paper towels to dry. Make sure that they don’t overlap each other. Take another paper towel and gently dab the leaves to remove any remaining moisture.
Storing Lettuce
Once the leaves are washed and dried, it’s time to store them. The aim is to store the lettuce in a way that maintains its crispness. This can be achieved by lining a glass or plastic container with a paper towel. Then add the leaves in layers, separating them with more paper towels.
Airtight containers are ideal because they help prevent bacteria or bugs from sneaking in and spoiling. Ziplock bags can also work but will store a lot fewer leaves.
Loose leaf lettuce varieties will last 7-10 stored this way. You can also store heads by washing the outsides and storing them the same way. They will last 1-3 weeks as they are more densely packed, which keeps them fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs)
Do lettuce plants keep producing?
Lettuce plants will keep producing if you use the cut and come again harvesting method. Simply cut the outer leaves and work your way in. Try and use fewer leaves, more often, to allow them to regrow.
What time of day is best to pick lettuce?
The best time of day to pick lettuce is in the morning once any dew from the night before has dried away. The leaves will also be at their sweetest and most tender during this time.
What to do with lettuce when it bolts?
You can remove the flower and seed once the lettuce has bolted, but the leaves are generally quite bitter at this stage. It’s best to pull up the whole plant and capture the seeds to be ready to regrow in the next season.
Is bolted lettuce poisonous?
As the leaves become rough, dull and yellow, they may seem unsightly. They can be eaten, though and are not at all poisonous. They will just taste extremely bitter. Rip them up and get the seeds ready for next year!
Will lettuce reseed itself?
Considering lettuce grows in cycles and through seasons, even if they were to drop seeds, they wouldn’t generally have the right growing conditions to start to grow again. So, although they could reseed themselves, there aren’t many locations in the world that would allow it.
Conclusion:
So as we have learnt, lettuce is not only versatile but also extremely easy to harvest. That’s even considering the vast array of types.
Head lettuce types can be lobbed from the base, whereas leaf types are more to remove using the cut and come again method.
We hope this article has helped you master the age-old question of how to harvest lettuce without killing the plant.
